SEC Sets 24-Hour Trading Roundtable As Markets Move Toward Always-On Finance
The SEC plans a public roundtable on September 17, 2026, to examine 24-hour trading in US equity markets. The focus is on market infrastructure, not crypto, but digital assets serve as the clear reference point because they already trade nonstop. The main issue is not just longer access; it is whether clearing, settlement, surveillance, liquidity, broker-dealer controls, margin systems, and investor protections can function safely across overnight hours. Regulators will also consider national market system rules, operational resilience, best execution, and how retail investors would be protected in thinner, more volatile after-hours markets. Crypto shows both the appeal and the risks of always-on markets: constant access, but uneven liquidity and larger price moves when participation is low. The debate reflects growing pressure on traditional finance to adapt to investor expectations for continuous trading without weakening core safeguards.
